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—Eurylochus, no! —Odysseus breaks his bindings just in time, maybe desperation gave him the strength he needed to do so, or maybe it was pure chance that they finally gave up then and there. He throws himself towards Eurylochus with what’s left of his strength as fast as possible. It’s barely enough to throw him to the ground, but enough to stop him from killing the cow. Before Eurylochus could say something or fight back, Odysseus speaks again, his voice breaking— Eury, please, you know how much we’ve sacrificed, how much I’ve sacrificed, and we’re so close already. What would I tell my sister if you die? How could I look her in the face and tell her that you died? I- I need you alive, you have to stay alive, we’re almost there, we can’t fail now —A few tears fall from his eyes, then Odysseus is crying for the first time in years, and doing his best to swallow his sobs— I-I kn-know! —He gets up, trying to hide his tears and the pain of his wound from his men, looking around desperately— T-There must be some fruits that we can take, please, just please, don’t do this —He looks back at Eurylochus, begging with his eyes
Eurylochus looks at Odysseus, who looks more like a lost child than the king and captain he’s supposed to be, and then at the men around them. With a sigh he answers an “ok” that is enough for the rest to forget the idea of eating any of the animals. Eurylochus looks back at Odysseus, with his head hung low and still crying, he can fight him when he’s angry, but could never deny him anything when he looked so sad and defeated.
Odysseys sags, all the adrenaline leaving his body, but too tired or worried about the future to feel true relief. He moves slow, the wound at his side throbbing painfully, trying to find enough food to satiate his men’s hunger and get back home.
They all manage to get some food for the remaining trip back, there’s not much chatter between them, the tensions are still high, the betrayals to one another still fresh in their minds. They sail once again, but this time there’s a palpable rift between captain and crew, Odysseus spends most of his time alone in his corner, while the rest look at him with distrust and resentment. Eurylochus has taken the lead, shouting orders here and there whenever it was necessary, otherwise the ship is silent.
To everyone disbelief, and relief, in a few days they already can see Ithaca’s shore, which is enough to give them the push they need. They all work hard to reach the island as soon as possible, deciding to dock the ship in the back of the island, not wanting the people to see them in such a sorry state when they should be coming back all triumphant and bathed in glory, nor they wanted the uncomfortable questions about the rest of the fleet. The crew wouldn’t admit this out loud, but they also didn’t want them to see their king like that, so defeated and refusing to speak or move more than what’s necessary, he had barely ate or sleep, hell, he hadn’t look excited or relieved when they saw Ithaca, he just stared blankly at the horizon. When the ship was anchored and the boats ready, the sea started to ripple slowly, then faster and faster, till suddenly a figure appeared from the deep of the ocean, towering over the ship and blocking the sun, casting a shadow over all of them.
—I’ve been waiting for this moment —His voice is clear, rich and deep, like water running. He sounds calm, but it’s the calm before the storm. Odysseus and his men know better than to let themselves be fooled by the calmness of it— For the perfect time to strike. When your home's so close, and you've reached your coast that's when our paths collide. I've got a reputation, I've got a name to uphold, so I can't go letting you walk or else the world forgets I'm cold*
—Poseidon —Odysseus whispers terrified, because this time he knows there’s no way out of this.
—Now get in the water or I'll raise the tide so high all of Ithaca will die —Poseidon lifts his trident and all the water around him starts to rise before splashing against the ship, rocking it dangerously.
—Wait! —Odysseus pleads— Let me-
—I'll make tidal waves so profound both your wife and your son will drown —He conjures the bodies of them with his powers before crushing them in his fist
—NO! —Odysseus falls on his knees, still trying to find his words and say what he needs to say
—Get in the water get in the water, don't mistake my threats for bluff. You have lived more than enough. I'll take your son and gouge his eyes, that is, unless you choose to die. Get in the water
—Wait, please! Let me speak! —He sobs, trying to make his lungs work so his words can reach the unforgiving god— Please, let my men go! I’ll get in the water, I’ll go with you, just let them go! —He cries and sobs desperately, this time unable to suppress them— You already took 500 of my men! We’ve been through enough, so please, please, take me but let them go! —He begs and pleads, unable to think of any other way to get out of this, his wits reduced to nothing after so many hardships, so much guilt and so many sleepless nights— It was my idea to blind your son! I gave the orders, they just followed them! It’s my fault and only mine! It’s all my fault… So please, I beg you, I implore you to let them get home! It’s me the one you have to punish, they’re innocent! —His throat burns, his lungs are at their limit, and he can’t stop crying, sobbing so hard his whole body is shaking. Everything is silent for a moment except for Odysseus’ cries, his men are at a loss, terrified for what the god might decide to do, Eurylochus is silently crying too, looking at Odysseus. He wants to go and hug him, to comfort him, to say that he doesn’t need to sacrifice himself for them, but he’s stunned in his place by the powerful being in front of them. And Poseidon is looking at the pathetic display that is Odysseus right now, a calculating look on his eyes, taking his time to decide the fate of those distasteful men in front of him.
In the split of a second, he’s in front of Odysseus in his human form, still taller and more imposing than any mortal, with his hand extended towards him. Odysseus looks up at him, he takes a moment to breathe, closing his eyes to try and calm himself, then he opens them, and takes the hand of the god with his own. Poseidon helps him to get up in his two feet gently, then pulls him towards his own body and the ocean that is behind him. While they fall towards the water, Poseidon kisses him fiercely, and Odysseus feels like he’s drowning in the kiss. They hit the ocean, and Odysseus tries to fight against the kiss to get some air, but Poseidon grips him tightly, not letting him go and stealing all of the air from his lungs. One of his hands goes to the stab wound, still healing, and stabs his nails into it, making Odysseus thrashing in his arms, and scream into the kiss. Poseidon keeps going, devouring his mouth and scratching his wound till the water around them is tinted red, till Odysseus goes pliant due to the air and blood loss and can only take what the god gives him, till the mortal’s eyes are closed and his world is turned dark.